FAA issues emergency AD for Cessna 402C, 414A airplanes

The FAA on Sunday, February 20, issued an emergency airworthiness directive ( AD 2005-05-51) for Cessna 402C and 414A airplanes.

The AD calls for visual inspection of the forward, aft, and auxiliary wing spars for cracks before the next flight. The AD includes a provision for a repositioning flight prior to the inspection. The AD exempts aircraft that have a spar strap modification following Cessna Service Bulletin MEB02-5, dated June 24, 2002, and Cessna Service Kit SK402-47, dated June 24, 2002. The AD, which supersedes AD 2000-23-01, Amendment 39-11971 (65 FR 70645), follows the discovery of severe fatigue cracks and, in one case, total spar-cap failure, on two 402C aircraft.

AOPA is continuing to work closely with the FAA and Cessna owner groups to address fatigue cracking in wing spars on Cessna 400-series aircraft.